What is a Dental Implant?

Dental Implants in Florence & Ft. Thomas, KY

Dental implants have become the preferred method of tooth replacement for patients of Dr. Ryan Estes for good reason! They offer patients a highly successful, long term solution for replacing missing teeth in Covington, KY. Implants have less complications than their traditional counterparts, or dental bridges and dentures.

Not only do implants have less complications than other tooth replacement options, they offer important benefits. Implants will promote jaw health by reducing, or stopping, the progression of bone loss. Bone loss left unchecked can lead to many problems including toothaches, further tooth loss, and structural impact to the face.
Dental implants are also extremely secure and look, feel, and function more like your natural teeth!

Dentures can be problematic for many patients because they sit on top of the gums. This can lead to discomfort, embarrassing slipping or clicking sounds, and even bone loss, a much more serious problem than just a toothache.

Patients with dental bridges may encounter problems because the surrounding healthy teeth become more vulnerable to decay as a result of the bridge placement. Bridges rely on surrounding teeth for support which are ground down to be used as abutments, or anchors. Susceptible to damage, this could lead to toothache, decay, or eventually tooth loss.

Both dentures and bridges will also need to be replaced at least once or twice in a lifetime, as well as need repairs or refitting. Dentures typically need replacing every five to seven years and bridges every seven to ten years.

Dental implants are fixed in the jaw bone. The structure and function of the implant helps to prevent further bone loss because it stimulates the jaw bone. Implants will also never slip. After surgical placement by a periodontist such as Dr. Ryan Estes, the titanium implant fuses with the jaw bone in a process called osseointegration. Not only do implants help to prevent bone loss and slipping, they will never decay!

Dental implant technology continues to advance and improve, even after 20 years of practical use. Patients with dental implants from the 1980s and 1990s still report satisfactory results. Call Dr. Ryan Estes today to schedule your examination for dental implants in Covington, KY.